PCR method and PCR device

Abstract

Provided on an inner surface of a container to carry out polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are an electrode pair 22 to be disposed to face each other with a gap along a flow of a reaction solution interposed therebetween, and an AC voltage is applied to the electrode pair 22 to make an AC current flow through the reaction solution, whereby Joule heat is generated to control the reaction solution in temperature. Accordingly, a PCR method and a PCR device that allow generating sufficient Joule heat for a PCR cycle even when an applied voltage is low, and do not electrolyze a reaction solution even by making an electric current flow through the reaction solution can be provided.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method comprising the steps of:
 providing, on an inner surface of a container to carry out polymerase chain reaction (PCR), an electrode pair to be disposed to face each other with a gap as part of a flowpath of a reaction solution interposed therebetween; 
 applying an AC voltage to the electrode pair to make an AC current flow through the reaction solution, thereby generating Joule heat to control the reaction solution in temperature; 
 flowing the reaction solution intermittently through the gap while the entire reaction solution within the container is controlled in temperature so as to be a complete PCR cycle; and 
 performing a PCR cycle in the container. 
 
     
     
       2. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method comprising the steps of:
 providing, on an inner surface of a container to carry out polymerase chain reaction (PCR), an electrode pair to be disposed to face each other with a gap as part of a flowpath of a reaction solution interposed therebetween; 
 applying an AC voltage to the electrode pair to make an AC current flow through the reaction solution, thereby generating Joule heat to control the reaction solution in temperature; 
 arresting the reaction solution in the container such that the entire reaction solution is controlled in temperature so as to be a PCR cycle; and 
 performing a PCR cycle in the container. 
 
     
     
       3. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method comprising the steps of:
 providing, on an inner surface of a container to carry out polymerase chain reaction (PCR), an electrode pair to be disposed to face each other with a gap as part of a flowpath of a reaction solution interposed therebetween; 
 applying an AC voltage to the electrode pair to make an AC current flow through the reaction solution, thereby generating Joule heat to control the reaction solution in temperature; and 
 performing a PCR cycle in the container, 
 wherein the electrode pair creates an electric field applied in a perpendicular direction compared to a direction of the flowpath. 
 
     
     
       4. The PCR method according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is a tubular channel. 
     
     
       5. The PCR method according to  claim 1 , wherein the channel is vertically oriented. 
     
     
       6. The PCR method according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is a flat chamber which is vertically erected, and the electrode pair is disposed to face each other with a vertical gap interposed therebetween on inner surface of one of the sidewalls of the chamber. 
     
     
       7. The PCR method according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is a flat chamber which is vertically erected, and the electrode pair is disposed to face each other, with the chamber interposed as a gap therebetween, on an inner surface of one of the sidewalls of the chamber and an inner surface of the other sidewall. 
     
     
       8. The PCR method according to  claim 2 , wherein the container is a tubular channel. 
     
     
       9. The PCR method according to  claim 2 , wherein the channel is vertically oriented. 
     
     
       10. The PCR method according to  claim 2 , wherein the container is a flat chamber which is vertically erected, and the electrode pair is disposed to face each other with a vertical gap interposed therebetween on inner surface of one of the sidewalls of the chamber. 
     
     
       11. The PCR method according to  claim 2 , wherein the container is a flat chamber which is vertically erected, and the electrode pair is disposed to face each other, with the chamber interposed as a gap therebetween, on an inner surface of one of the sidewalls of the chamber and an inner surface of the other sidewall. 
     
     
       12. The PCR method according to  claim 3 , wherein the container is a tubular channel and the channel is vertically oriented. 
     
     
       13. The PCR method according to  claim 3 , wherein the container is a flat chamber which is vertically erected, and the electrode pair is disposed to face each other with a vertical gap interposed therebetween on inner surface of one of the sidewalls of the chamber. 
     
     
       14. The PCR method according to  claim 3 , wherein the container is a flat chamber which is vertically erected, and the electrode pair is disposed to face each other, with the chamber interposed as a gap therebetween, on an inner surface of one of the sidewalls of the chamber and an inner surface of the other sidewall. 
     
     
       15. The PCR method according to  claim 3 , further comprising the step of flowing the reaction solution continuously through the gap while the entire reaction solution within the container is controlled in temperature by the AC current directly heating the reaction solution so as to be a complete PCR cycle.